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avoid the block posts which both sides have
erected along the front line. We also
enjoyed the company of two brothers and a
sister from Nigeria. It was a wonderful
atmosphere to be with believers both new
and old, packed into a meeting room all
eagerly listening with Bibles open [or the
younger ones reading Bibles from their
phones] and taking notes- and freely talking
about the ideas presented in the evening
chats amongst themselves.
Some present were baptized in the early
90s, and we have no greater joy than to hear
that our children continue to walk in truth.
There were three baptisms, from teenager
through middle age to elderly: Darina,
teenage daughter of brother Igor and sister
Irina; Nikolay, a middle aged man who found
us online whilst searching for a new Bible, and
who fitted in most naturally with the group as
if he had always been with us; and Josip, an
elderly man with failing sight who lives in the
same village as two of our sisters. Darina is
pictured above right with her happy parents
just before her baptism.
The final evening was a talent night, with
Bible questions, skits of scenes like Joseph
blessing Manasseh and Ephraim, and Joseph
meeting Jacob in Egypt (pictured above). It
was wonderful to see Jacob’s sons played by
believers of various nationalities, ages and
colours- all gathered by the Lord’s hand in
freezing, broken down Ukraine.
We really do deeply thank you all for making
these Bible Schools possible, by prayer and
donation. We have to pay the fares of most of
the local attendees; but without these schools
they just would not have much sense of
community and fellowship in Christ. So thank
you all so much for enabling these happy and
truly spiritual events. Do come along your-
selves- the next Ukrainian School? is planned
for the Summer (God willing) and we wonder
if any out there would like to come and give
Here’s a brief summary from sister Margaret
Greenwood:
“This was my first visit to the Ukraine Bible
School and John had not been since 1999.? He
was delighted to meet some brothers and
sisters who were present at that time.? It was
a particular pleasure to meet Veronica
because John has spoken about her after his
previous visit. She and others who spoke
English introduced themselves and helped us
to get to know many others. Although we
could not follow the discussions in Russian it
was obvious that the brothers and sisters
~ continued ...